Seriously overweight cat Meow, who became an animal celebrity after appearing on US TV, has died from heart failure. The massive mog weighed in at a whopping 40lbs — four times his ideal weight — making him as obese as a 43-stone human. The two-year old swelled after gorging on fatty foods left out by his owner, and eventually had to be taken in by the Santa Fe Animal Shelter in New Mexico, US. While staying there the flabby tabby won an army of fans after making an appearance on the famous Today show. Vet Jennifer Steketee explained to viewers: “Clearly he was not fed a healthy diet, and way too much of it, and lacks a certain amount of willpower.” She added: “A chubby cat is really not a happy cat. He is a cat that can really barely walk at this point, and it’s going to be a hard road back to health.” But tragically, despite being put on a low-carb, high-protein "Catkins" diet, Meow died on Saturday evening. The shelter's Mary Martin said told how the cat suffered pulmonary failure and could not be saved despite help from four different vets. Mary added: "Meow had been doing so well in his foster home; walking up stairs and seeking affection — that it is so very hard to believe he is gone. "We will forever be grateful for the attention Meow’s size brought to pet obesity and to animal shelters across the country. "We are especially grateful to all of you who fell in love with this charming cat — as we did — and were so very interested in his progress and success."